We’re getting married!

Alva and Erick first crossed paths in 2016 when Alva started working at Valley View Casino. Funny enough, Erick had actually heard about her before she even began. Her mother, who worked in a different department, had been one of the first friendly faces to welcome him when he started at Valley View. She spoke warmly about her daughter and had even tried a time or two to match them up—but at the time, they were both seeing other people, so the timing was never right. Another friend of Alva’s, Stefany, also mentioned that her friend was about to start working in the same area as him and jokingly warned him not to be “struck down” by how amazing she was. Once they began working together, Alva and Erick became instant friends. Over the course of a year, they built a strong connection—working the same shift, bonding over their favorite bands, and always finding ways to make work fun. Their conversations were easy and often filled with laughter—the kind of effortless banter coworkers remember. Their chemistry didn’t go unnoticed; people regularly asked if they were dating. They weren’t—but it was clear their friendship was something special. As time passed, their friendship deepened. By 2023, they found themselves unofficially dating—spending more and more time together and realizing what they had was something real. In 2024, they made it official—and everything fell into place. One of the most meaningful parts of their journey has been the relationship Erick formed with Alva’s son, Marc. The two connected naturally through their shared love of soccer, thoughtful conversations about politics, and Marc’s growing curiosity about faith. Their bond has become a steady and treasured part of this growing family. Along the way, Alva and Erick have explored the world together—visiting incredible places like England and Egypt and traveling across the U.S. on various trips. Each adventure has brought new memories, laughter, and stories that continue to shape their love.

Erick had every intention of proposing to Alva during a trip they’d planned to Las Vegas. The timing seemed perfect—just the two of them enjoying Top Golf, a Cirque du Soleil show, and dinner at their favorite sushi spot in the city. But life had other plans: the engagement ring didn’t arrive until after they had already left town. Even so, the trip was filled with laughter, love, and more memories added to their ever-growing collection. (Ask them about Erick’s sleepwalking “Frappe” incident lol) Once they returned home, Alva needed to catch up on laundry, so Erick offered to go with her to the laundromat. What happened next might not sound traditional—but for them, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Erick, already holding onto the ring and feeling eager to propose, didn’t want to wait any longer. The moment felt wonderfully ordinary and beautifully real—very much like Jim’s surprise proposal to Pam in The Office, where love showed up unexpectedly in the middle of everyday life. After Alva started a load of laundry, the two of them went back to her car and dozed off while they waited. When the alarm eventually woke them up, Erick turned to her and casually asked, “Hey babe, would you like to wash my clothes for me going forward?”—then pulled out the ring. Alva was caught off guard (she had probably expected something during Vegas), but the moment was so uniquely them—a little funny, a little spontaneous, and full of love. Of course, she said yes. Later, they laughed even more when Erick realized he’d forgotten to ask her dad for permission first—a step he quickly and respectfully followed up on. It was just another chapter in their story: heartfelt, slightly unpredictable, and perfectly their own.